SHOULDER DYSTOCIA INJURIES & OBSTETRICAL MALPRACTICE

BIRTH INJURY ATTORNEYS IN KANSAS CITY

Shoulder dystocia is a rare type of obstructed labor that can cause intense
trauma for the mother and baby during delivery. When the baby is too large
for the birth canal, his or her shoulders could become lodged in the mother’s
pelvis, preventing the birth from proceeding normally. In response, doctors
need to perform special medical maneuvers to safely guide the baby through
the delivery safely. Failure to do so may result in a birth injury. While
not all instances of shoulder dystocia automatically hurt the child, this
type of obstruction is known to cause long-term damage if handled incorrectly. Our
Kansas City birth injury lawyers, who are also doctors, are well-versed in this area of birth injury law,
and we can assist you if your baby has suffered from a shoulder dystocia injury.

Do you need counsel on a shoulder dystocia birth injury? Contact the doctor-lawyers
at Cullan & Cullan for a free in-depth consultation and case review.

What Are the Risk Factors for Shoulder Dystocia?

In some cases, shoulder dystocia is an unforeseeable birth complication.
However, there are also several risk factors that can make it more likely,
and your doctor must be aware of these issues to help limit the impact.

The top risk factors indicating shoulder dystocia may occur include:

Maternal diabetes: If the mother has diabetes, the child is likely to be larger and their
subcutaneous fat may have a different distribution than a normal infant.
A skilled doctor should understand that shoulder dystocia is a risk in
these cases and should work with the mother to control glucose levels
during pregnancy.

Late labor/gestation: The closer the mother is to the 40 week delivery date, the bigger the baby
will grow, increasing its weight and shoulder diameter. This can put severe
strain on the mother and ultimately lead to shoulder dystocia. In order
to prevent this,
some doctors recommend inducing labor earlier.

Epidural use: Using an epidural too early in the birthing process can relax the uterus
for extended periods of time, slowing the progress of labor and increasing
the risk of stress on both mother and child. If your doctor has misjudged
the timing of an epidural or failed to perform an emergency C-section
as appropriate, shoulder dystocia may often occur.

Maternal history of previous dystocia: One of the strongest risk factors for shoulder dystocia is in a mother
with a history of these complications. Once your doctor knows that you
have a history of shoulder dystocia, they can and should work with you
to formulate a birth plan accordingly.

The True Cost of Shoulder Dystocia

Although there are shoulder dystocia deliveries that end without injury
to mother or child, one of the most tragic consequences can be brachial
plexus damage. The brachial plexus is made up of the nerves within the
neck/spinal column. During shoulder dystocia, these fragile tissues and
veins may become stretched or torn which may result in your child suffering
from life-long loss of arm and shoulder movement, and in some rare cases,
paralysis. These injuries are very painful and can result in lifelong
disability affecting every aspect of your child’s life.

Some other common injuries sustained during a shoulder dystocia complication include:

Holding Negligent Practitioners Accountable for Your Child’s Injuries

A skilled medical practitioner may not be able to prevent shoulder dystocia.
However, if your doctor has failed to perform the due diligence required
to limit the effects of this complication, the hospital may be liable
for damages. While nothing can compensate for the pain you and your family
have experienced, you may be able to win critical financial assistance
for any future medical expenses ahead. Our doctor-lawyers at Cullan &
Cullan focus exclusively on medical malpractice and personal injury cases
like these, and we can give you a full case review backed by research
and medical training.

If you need assistance with a shoulder dystocia case, contact our Kansas
City birth injury lawyers, who are doctors, at Cullan & Cullan at
(816) 253-8606. We offer free initial consultations.

Record SettingVerdicts

$19 Million

Truck Accident

Negligent truck driver made a right-hand turn into plaintiff’s vehicle,
causing fractured vertebra and partial paralysis. Defendant alleged plaintiff
was trying to pass him on the shoulder. The insurance company offered
zero before trial.

$17 Million

Birth Injury

Negligence by nurses and hospital staff in failing to assess the position
of the baby, improper use of Pitocin, and failing to obtain an assessment
by physician, resulting in severe oxygen deprivation and brain injury
to the baby.

$13.2 Million

Birth Injury

A newborn suffered brain damage due to improper administration of Pitocin,
failure to monitor preeclampsia and failure to perform timely c-section.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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